Review of The Foreigner (2003) by Julian W — 16 Dec 2007

Even though Seagal movies have become less and less entertaining as he gets older, this one is an exception for it had us on the edge of our seats....but for the wrong reason.

The plot is Seagal plays Jonathan Cold, a rogue agent who's sent to retrieve a "package" and deliver it to its rightful client. Sounds simple doesn't it....wrong. This movie becomes convoluted with plot twists, heel turns, face turns and so much sub-plot that you really have no one to cheer for.

Donsoir, Mimms, Van Eagan, Seagal himself...you really can't tell who's the real bad guy and who's not. In fact Seagal spends half the movie trying to kill Donsoir and the other half working with him....and not in the same order either. One scene he tries to kill him...later on in the movie they work together to storm Van Eagan's mansion.

I know Seagal's like 80 lbs heavier than in his heydey but that doesn't mean he has to subject us to a plot like this. Its just way too confusing. I can figure out the plot, I'm sure a few others can too...but for the general public, they'll be left scratching their heads. Plus, with characters trying to team up or kill Seagal at an alarming rate, you have no one to get behind and cheer for.

The highlight of the movie is Donsoir with a cigarette in his mouth or hand basically the whole film, like Lumbergh's coffee mug in Office Space.

2 out of 5.